***Jagger***

Dammit. Tessera’s got Tria protected underneath her wings and the whole damn clubhouse is looking at my Old Lady in awe. Hell yeah, I’ve told every single one of them my woman is part Angel, but I guess being told and seeing shit are two very different things.

I can’t believe their sister, Dio, just got herself killed. I mean, the way Tria moved, fighting while blinking...that’s the way she should have fought. The Demons didn’t even see Tria blink. Why the hell didn’t Dio blink when the fireball hit her? And it shouldn’t have fucking killed her, that’s the strangest part. The only way to stop an immortal from living is to chop off their head. Yet it seems evaporating into tiny as shit fragments by blowing them up can count as beheading too, right? Fuck.

“Caius, take care of that fucking hole in the roof, get a few guys up there to fix that shit before it starts to rain. Theon, go check on Romulus to see if those heads have been turned to ash already and then the two of you come back here to make sure the bodies follow. The rest of you guys, clean up the fucking blood and debris.” Everybody jumps up and start to move.

It’s fucking better than standing around gaping at my woman. Damn idiots. And I meant it when I asked Tria if she was aware the boss of those Demons saw the last few minutes of their deaths. He might not have seen her blink around while killing them, but he sure as shit will know it was her who killed them. It means he’s coming for her. I would. If someone would kill off one of my people I would hunt them down and kill them.

Yes, if the killer wasn’t a Vampire I’d have to go through my own boss; Alastair. Like I came to him when Tessera’s father, Derek, killed Aura. But Demons don’t have a boss. Once upon a time they had their own MC, connected with The Orderly, like us. But they cut ties and now they’re outlaws who mind their own business unless you cross them. Well, that and the fact they hunt Angels, but seeing they are rare here on earth, we never run into any Demons, or Angels on a regular basis.

But fuck...with my Old Lady having Angel blood running inside her...shit. It’s the fucking wings. “Tessera, get those fucking wings inside you. They’re a damn beacon. It’s that or the knife earlier but we can’t take a chance. Re-fucking-tract those wings.”

She glares at me and I know I’m being harsh but with three Demons dying inside the clubhouse, a damn Angel added into the mix, three-third-Angel, what-the-fuck-ever, there’s bound to be hell to pay and that’s no damn pun intended.

Tria leans in and whispers into Tessera’s ear. She’s distracting her and it works because her beautiful serene wings disappear. They lace their fingers together and step toward me. Seems these sisters both helped each other just now. I’m actually happy Tria’s claws are gone and the scales in her face too. It’s a clear indication she’s got herself back under control. 

I’ve seen fairies blow their shit a time or two in the past and let me tell you...that’s like a damn train wreck. Unstoppable. You just have to let it ride out and then, only then...you jump in for damage control. Because nobody can handle a Fae when they are consumed with anger.

Tria and Dio are still young and not fully grown yet. Fae have exhilarated growth and are fully aged after seven years. They age three times as fast as humans and then they freeze and become immortal. Tria and Dio aren’t immortal yet. That might explain the reason what happened with Dio...dammit.

“We need to protect Tria. She’s not immortal yet, how long, Tria?” I question.

“Tomorrow,” she fucking whispers.

Tessera gasps, knowing very well what a difference a day means. Fuck. What a damn mess. If this would have happened tomorrow? Dio might have regenerated. But there’s no way of knowing if that was possible, because she’s gone.

“Prez.” Caius steps toward me. “I’ve got guys fixing the roof, but I gotta go and I really need you and Alastair to go with, because I finally found the person I was looking for...the one who made it possible for Dedrick to impregnate women to generate half breeds the way he did.”

Shit. What bad fucking timing. Although this might shed some clarity on a few things. Wait a minute... “Is there a reason why you need me and Alastair to go with you? Because I know for a fact you’re capable of following up on a damn lead yourself and in case you forgot, we’re right in the middle of something here.”

“It’s a fucking Witch, okay?” Caius snaps. “I can’t go alone. I mean, I’ve lived long enough to contain myself but backup would be the smartest move here. ‘Cause if the Witch does smell sweet enough, I might drain her before I get any intel.”

“Then we’ll take Tessara with us and maybe it’ll be a good thing to have Tria tag along too. We can’t leave her unprotected.” I glance over at the two sisters.

“What’s going to happen? Will they come after her?” The fear in Tessera’s voice is vivid, making my body flare with the need to soothe her.

Yet I can’t lie and I never will, not to her. “She’s marked. And Tria knows very well she can’t return to her home because they will not only hunt her down but will harm anyone in their path to get to her. She’d be the safest with us, we will offer her protection.”

Tria nods, and though her eyes are empty her mind is still able to process the important things.

“Tria, I don’t want to hurt your feelings but there’s something that nags me and I need to understand this part...why didn’t Dio flash to dodge the Demon’s attack?” Yes, I’m an asshole to pop that question at this time but I need to understand.

“Because she isn’t as strong as I am. Her Fae heritage was dormant for years, while I on the other hand, have been playing with it since I was a baby. Our mother died in childbirth and we were raised by our grandmother, she’s a full blood...we were always taught to use our magic, to embrace it. The necklace Tess took from me, the dust that’s inside to enforce our magic? I’ve never needed it, my magic is strong. Dio needs...needed it.”

With what she just mentioned, it’s clear Tria is different than my Old Lady and her other sister, Eliana, who thought they were fully human until their asses landed into the Supernatural world. “Tria, are you aware of your complete background? You mentioned your grandmother is a full blood, this means your mother wasn’t, right? We know all of the kids your father put on this earth are a combination of Supernatural beings, seeing two of your sisters had no clue, you seem to be fully aware. Part human, part Fae, part heaven.”

“I don’t have human blood inside me. Fae, half heaven, and Phoenix. My mother was half Fae and half Phoenix.” She shrugs like it’s nothing while everyone around her is dropping their jaw.

Wait a fucking minute. “How dormant was the Phoenix in your twin?”

Her eyes go wide. “Not so much, mine is. When she could barely walk, Dio had a bad fall. We rushed to her but flames exploded around her and grandma started laughing. She explained how she might have inherited the strong DNA of my mother’s Phoenix’s side. Do you think...”

“It’s possible,” I murmur, thinking things over.

“Can someone explain to me what this is about?” Tessera sighs.

“A Phoenix rises from its ashes. Meaning when it dies it regenerates. Seeing Tria just mentioned she already died once, I’m fairly sure this spiked her age and with that she was already immortal. Both of them not being completely Fae would mean Tria here is too and won’t have to wait till they’ve reached the point of a Fae’s life where they stop growing. Knowing this, there might be a very tiny chance Dio didn’t die but in fact regenerated instead. But we can’t be sure.”

“Hell, I’ll take a nanosecond of possibilities over zero chance any time of day,” Tessera says determined as she rubs her sister’s arm. “Right?”

Trio nods, a glint of hope in her eyes. I hope to fuck Dio was able to regenerate and pops up some time soon. Because the look in my Old Lady’s eyes is killing me. I don’t ever want to see her sad or hurt. But there’s a lot of contradiction since she didn’t regenerate at the damn spot, making it very unlikely for her to still be alive.

“Okay, for now we need to handle a few things first. Caius, you take the truck and take Tria with you. And text Alastair with the address to meet us there.” I direct my attention toward my Old Lady’s sister. “Sorry, I can’t let you go home or stay here, it will be safer for you to tag along with us.”

She nods and I see my woman’s eyes fill with relief. That right there makes me aware she has my back too in this. But if she thinks she’d be riding with my VP in the truck, she’s dead wrong. “Tessera, you’re with me, let’s go.”

I’m about to turn when Tessera places her hand on my arm. “Why don’t we all go in the truck?”

“Because,” I growl, unable to keep my emotions in check with her defying my orders in front of my VP and countless others around, “you’re my Old Lady and you belong on the back of my bike.”

Tessera glances around before her eyes meet mine, realization dawning in her gorgeous blue eyes. “Okay, but can I ask why Caius isn’t taking his bike?”

“We don’t know what will happen, maybe we need to take the Witch with us or escort her someplace else to follow a lead. It’s just easier that way. Besides...I’m not sure how Caius feels about letting a woman ride on the back of his bike. He’s been difficult when it comes to women because in his mind he already belongs to his mate he never met...in person.” I look at my VP, his focus is on his phone though I see his shoulders stiffen at my words.

Caius had told me years ago how he had a very vivid dream about his eternal mate. On rare occasions future mates who are sleeping at the same time, no matter the distance, and are thinking about their future, the dreams will link and they will spend the dream time as if they were meeting face to face. As I said it’s rare, but it happened to Caius and since then, he’s sworn off all women.

“Alastair will meet us there, let’s go,” Caius says with a gruff voice, clearly wanting any conversation on the subject to end.

Respecting my VP, I step closer to Tessera and gently brush my lips against hers before pulling back and lacing our fingers to guide her along with me toward the door. Once we’re outside, I straddle my bike and wait for her to get on, except she’s standing there biting that plump bottom lip of her.

“What is it, Angel?”

She eyes the bike. “Is it safe?”

This makes me chuckle. “Safe enough, but sweetheart...you do know you’re immortal, right?”

Her eyes go wide for a second before she shoots me a grin. “Forgot about that.”

She practically jumps on the back and wraps her arms around me. I relish in the feel of her body wrapped around me. I’ve never had this. I’m centuries old and never in all my existence did I have a woman warming my back. Others have been known to have no problem with switching women and having them jump on their bike. Well, except for Caius as I explained. But for me? Never. It just felt wrong to do so...yet now? Fucking magnificent.

The bike roars alive underneath us. Caius’ truck pulls up in front of me and I start to follow him seeing he knows where we’re going. I’m anxious to find out this part. I mean, it’s pure logic that making half breeds is possible, because clearly they exist.

We already uncovered the reason why with that screwed up Derek wanting to make invincible Paranormals for his own personal vendetta, but this? This is about the ‘how the fuck was he able to make so many half breeds.’ Knocking up one or two, that’s a possibility, fucking nature and all. But firing his dick up for lightning speed breeding, and hitting bullseye with every sperm load, is a whole new ballgame. Most definitely something that needs to be looked into.

A long drive leads us to a place in the woods. It’s remote and to my surprise the tiny house is practically made from windows in all colors, shapes, and sizes. I park my bike and let Tessera step off.

Caius jumps out of the truck and eyes the house. “Who the fuck would want to live in there?” he grumbles as his phone rings. “I gotta take this, that damn prospect called me twice already to ask what color he should fucking paint the damn ceiling now that the hole is fixed. And I can see through the damn window house that Alastair and his Old Lady are already inside. Go on in, I’ll be right there.”

I nod and follow the two sisters who are already stalking toward the house.

The door swings open and Alastair lets the two women pass before he grabs my cut and leans in right next to my ear. “Thank fuck you’re here. I’m pretty sure my ears would start to bleed if you took one fucking minute longer.”

“I heard that,” his Old Lady snaps.

Alistair looks over his shoulder. “I know, baby. But for real, you girls squealing after every damn sentence isn’t doing anyone any good, especially my fucking ears.”

“Oh, spill, what are you two excited about?” my Old Lady questions.

“We know each other,” Eliana beams. “Our mothers were friends and we spent so much time together, that is until Nixie’s mother took her own life...Nixie was thirteen and needed to go and live with her aunt. We lost track but now we’ve found each other again. I never knew she was a witch, though. With my mother keeping that part of my background a secret.”

On Eliana’s mother side of the family are ancestors who come from a long line of Witches. Figures they know one another, it’s a tight circle.

“Between all the squealing these two figured out Eliana’s mother not only punched holes into the condom to conceive Eliana, but she also used a hex bag to ensure pregnancy. Nixie here says she remembers a man coming to her mother years ago to prepare hex bags for him for multiple pregnancies. Seeing some ingredient shit needed a change for a selective Paranormal pregnancy Derek needed a few. Nixie can’t remember how much but she did mention a fucking dragon request, and one involving an Elite, because Nixie was intrigued by these specific Paranormals as a kid. So, it seems our Old Ladies have a sister who’s part dragon,” Alastair informs me.

“Part dragon?” Caius says from behind me. “What are you guys talking about? And what the fuck is that delicious smell?”